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Rethinking 49ers 53-man roster predictions one week into training camp

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - MAY 23: Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers participates in drills during 49ers Rookie Minicamp on May 23, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - MAY 23: Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers participates in drills during 49ers Rookie Minicamp on May 23, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Quarterback (2)

Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens

The No. 1 player on the quarterbacking depth chart, Jimmy Garoppolo, shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Garoppolo, ever since tearing his ACL last season and working back from recovery, has been the shoo-in choice to assume franchise-like duties for San Francisco. In 2019, the pressure will be on him to live up to what was then a record-setting five-year, $137.5 million contract.

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Jimmy G had some up-and-down moments in training camp, although the good news is he’s starting to balance out his efforts and remain consistent. While he likely won’t see too much time in the preseason, improved camp performances are always a good sign.

Yet the biggest storyline at the position might not necessarily involve Garoppolo. It features a bout between his backups, C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens.

Kyle Shanahan has repeatedly indicated he wants to give both Beathard and Mullens an equal shot at backing up Garoppolo this summer. And while both signal-callers have had plusses and minuses in camp, it’s still hard to envision how Beathard wins outright, especially when the preseason comes into play.

San Francisco’s offense ran more efficiently with Mullens under center late last year. The same can’t be said of Beathard, and nearly every number backs up the claim.

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With the likelihood of Shanahan keeping just two quarterbacks on his regular-season roster apparent, Beathard doesn’t have the luxury of merely matching Mullens performance for performance.

Beathard has to win out in dominant fashion, and it’s not happening in camp so far at all.